tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post116801882174872575..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: January: PlanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168621211785446782007-01-12T12:00:00.000-05:002007-01-12T12:00:00.000-05:00"Working Titles?"love that title for this post - -..."Working Titles?"<BR/>love that title for this post - - the double meaning.<BR/>Get this: my biographer actually published a couple chapters of my biography under the title: "Lost In Kingdom Come." I finally said, call it RUTHIE BLACK, you idiot!<BR/><BR/>www.ruthieblacknude.blogspot.comPeter Brown, Instructorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362566121679218377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168355515165846002007-01-09T10:11:00.000-05:002007-01-09T10:11:00.000-05:00This is very good advice! It's the way I was able ...This is very good advice! It's the way I was able to quit my "real job" and have, for the past two years made more freelance writing than I did working. Of course, I probably suffer from an over abundance of self-motivation :)<BR/><BR/>Jordan RosenfeldJordan E. Rosenfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00580511962852819683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168174995559194992007-01-07T08:03:00.000-05:002007-01-07T08:03:00.000-05:00I also really want to thank you for this post. It...I also really want to thank you for this post. It's extreemly helpful and insightful and most importantly realistic. Everytime I finish a great writing session I get up and start thinking about how I am ever going to get this published. Breaking it down like this makes it do-able.<BR/><BR/>Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853980637566992330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168158059051888342007-01-07T03:20:00.000-05:002007-01-07T03:20:00.000-05:00Thanks so much for putting the time into writing ...Thanks so much for putting the time into writing this post, PBW. If you want to be a writer, I believe you do have to have a sense of purpose and at least some sort of plan. At least if you plan on writing more than one text. Treating it like a business that needs to be organized and budgeted for will help make tentative plans and goals easier to achieve.<BR/><BR/>I'm kind of babbling, but really, it's very helpful to see how both sides of the writing business works. Thanks for going over it so thoroughly. I still love to own a hard copy of "Way of the Cheetah." ^_~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168154279071094192007-01-07T02:17:00.000-05:002007-01-07T02:17:00.000-05:00Jennyta wrote: That is a really useful post, thank...Jennyta wrote: <I>That is a really useful post, thank you</I><BR/><BR/>You're welcome, ma'am.<BR/><BR/>Scott wrote: <I>Excellent advice. Thanks!</I><BR/><BR/>My pleasure, sir.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous wrote: <I>Man, you're lucky. You got mentioned on BoingBoing!</I><BR/><BR/>How sweet. Cory must be having a slow day.<BR/><BR/>Margaret wrote: <I>I track finances for taxes and writing goals annually, monthly and weekly, but I've never put the two together before. I'll have to try this.</I><BR/><BR/>You can do them separately, of course, but I look at the writing as a product, the royalties as accounts receivable, the expenses as accounts payable, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168153666367763602007-01-07T02:07:00.000-05:002007-01-07T02:07:00.000-05:00Lynn wrote: I really liked your idea of posting an...Lynn wrote: <I>I really liked your idea of posting an original story to a blog or other public site to help generate interest in one's work. However, how do you go about protecting that work? How can you make sure that someone doesn't take your story (or story idea) and try to sell it as his or her own? Is it possible to maintain a copyright (for lack of better word) on something published on the internet?</I><BR/><BR/>Anything you write is copyrighted the minute you write it, whether that's on paper or via an electronic medium like the internet.<BR/><BR/>You can get an ISSN number for your blog for free (<A HREF="http://www.loc.gov/issn/" REL="nofollow">details are here</A>). It doesn't protect your work in the same way copyright does, but it creates an official record of your blog and can be used as supporting documentation for possible future litigation.<BR/><BR/>General if you publish something online and someone plagiarizes it on their blog or site, you can ask them to take it down and if they don't, you can notify their ISP or take it as far as to court. International sites (notably, Russian) often copy blog content, but it's just about impossible for an average citizen to take them to court or shut them down.<BR/><BR/>Because the internet is so accessible, you should regularly check places like <A HREF="http://copyscape.com/" REL="nofollow">Copyscape</A> to see if your weblog content is being copied elsewherethere. If your story is one you'd like to see published in print someday, and/or you feel it has a good chance of being lifted, you might consider keeping it off the web altogether.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168152462799739692007-01-07T01:47:00.000-05:002007-01-07T01:47:00.000-05:00Jean wrote: How many third world countries did you...Jean wrote: <I>How many third world countries did you have to overthrow before you realized what a drain on resources they are and how distracting they were to completing the writing plan?</I><BR/><BR/>Lemme think. Six. Well, Prince Charles really didn't help much when we invaded the Malvinas (he got so seasick), so seven.<BR/><BR/>May wrote: <I>I must do this. I really should. I know better than to not do this.</I><BR/><BR/>Remember you can keep the plan open and flexible, and make changes as necessary.<BR/><BR/>Jeanette wrote: <I>Thanks so much for this post!</I><BR/><BR/>You're welcome, ma'am.<BR/><BR/>BJ wrote: <I>I thought EVERYONE alphabetizes their spices!</I><BR/><BR/>I just can't figure why someone wouldn't, especially if your eyesight is bad. I know exactly where the basil is on my rack, which is good, because to me it looks exactly like the oregano, the fennel and the marjoram. <BR/><BR/>Cora wrote: <I>I've actually been doing an okay job of tracking my writing expenses, but I'd never looked at it as far as managing my money to be sure I have enough to pay for all my writing expenses. Hm. This has put me to thinking...</I><BR/><BR/>Budgeting really helped me when money was tight. Pre-planning what expenses I could afford and how to pay for them took a lot of worry and guilt off my shoulders. It also helps you develop good self-discipline and financial awareness; something that comes in handy when you have a bigger income and may be tempted to blow a lot of money on something. <BR/><BR/>Dawn wrote: <I>Hope your knee's better and leave those third world countries alone!</I><BR/><BR/>The knee is still holding together, the steroid shots should kick in on Monday, and I got a new brace that looks scary but feels lovely. All third world countries are safe for now. :)<BR/><BR/>Darlene wrote: <I>Yes, I keep my spices in alphabetical order as well. Do you think the two are on the same gene?</I><BR/><BR/>The I Can't Stand Unplanned Business and Not Knowing Where the Bay Leaves Are gene, maybe?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168150981770980182007-01-07T01:23:00.000-05:002007-01-07T01:23:00.000-05:00Hanna wrote: Why have I not yet alphabatized my sp...Hanna wrote: <I>Why have I not yet alphabatized my spices? I'm doing that tomorrow! Was that not the point of this post?</I><BR/><BR/>Absolutely. The business plan stuff was just filler. ;) <BR/><BR/>Simon wrote: <I>Actually, I've spent the past fifteen years designing and writing financial software of one sort or another - accounts, shares, order tracking, you name it - so I don't need to say "good idea!" to the rest.</I><BR/><BR/>And you alphabetize your spices, too, which only adds to your perfections.<BR/><BR/>Jason wrote: <I> I caught our microwave on fire trying to make microwave popcorn, and I'm not joking about that.</I><BR/><BR/>Don't feel bad. I did the same thing to a pan of Jiffy-Pop on a gas stove once. <BR/><BR/>Charlene wrote: <I>I *heart* my business plan. And I'll be forever grateful that I learned project management in Corporate Land. It's a creative business, but it's still running a business.</I><BR/><BR/>I wish there were more books on the business of authoring, though. If Judith Ivory hadn't given me some very specific tax advice my first year out, I'd have screwed up a lot of things. <BR/><BR/>Katherine wrote: <I>Excellent advice. I just want to add one additional tip for those who are published enough to depend on outside payments for important expenses. They'll be late. Count on it, plan for it, and make sure you have enough of a financial cushion to deal with it.</I><BR/><BR/>Excellent point -- and another reason to keep the business account healthy. <BR/><BR/>Shiloh wrote: <I>My plan, the bare basics are to finish two contracted books and fit some shorter books to submit to my e publishers. I reckon I can try doing a more detailed plan....</I><BR/><BR/>Don't sweat it. If a daily goal hems you in, and you don't feel like doing that much tracking, go for just a weekly and monthly check on how you're doing.<BR/><BR/>Wendelin wrote: <I>One of my goals this year was to figure out how the hell writers are supposed to make a business plan (especially the ones that have no current income)</I><BR/><BR/>One thing I used to do was to figure out pay rates for everything I planned to submit and note them on my submission schedule. If a rejection came in, I tried to send out a new submission to a new prospect offering the same pay rate. It sounds a bit anal, but I was doing a lot of short pieces and freelancing locally, and I picked up repeat work from people I sold to, so in a few years I was able to roughly estimate my income based on what I expected to sell, if that makes any sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168145353925004832007-01-06T23:49:00.000-05:002007-01-06T23:49:00.000-05:00Great post. I track finances for taxes and writin...Great post. I track finances for taxes and writing goals annually, monthly and weekly, but I've never put the two together before. I'll have to try this. Personally, I don't like spending more than I have, so your idea of putting the money away up front makes perfect sense to me.<BR/><BR/>Well, as long as the chocolate budget is separate that is. Oh, and yes, I do alphabetize my spices as well. A recent development after years of being unable to find what I was looking for that I've imposed on all my family :).<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>MargaretMargaret M. Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168143851176174752007-01-06T23:24:00.000-05:002007-01-06T23:24:00.000-05:00Man, you're lucky. You got mentioned on BoingBoing...Man, you're lucky. You got mentioned on <A HREF="http://www.boingboing.net/2007/01/06/devils_dictionary_th.html" REL="nofollow">BoingBoing</A>! That site has, what, a few million hits a day?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168120624454030332007-01-06T16:57:00.000-05:002007-01-06T16:57:00.000-05:00Excellent advice. Thanks!Excellent advice. Thanks!Scott Marlowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06024984238491365925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168112633477506222007-01-06T14:43:00.000-05:002007-01-06T14:43:00.000-05:00That is a really useful post, thank you. As a mere...That is a really useful post, thank you. As a mere beginner, it had never occurred to me to write a business plan for writing.Jennytchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13621488409334115930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168111683277123242007-01-06T14:28:00.000-05:002007-01-06T14:28:00.000-05:00What great advice. I especially like the idea of p...What great advice. I especially like the idea of planning things in small increments and building them into a larger plan. Somehow the idea of committing to "write 1 page a day" doesn't seem ovewhelming the way "write an entire novel" does. Yet if you can accomplish Small Goal # 1, it will add up to Larger Goal.<BR/><BR/>I have a sort-of OT question, although it does relate to business. I wasn't able to find an e-mail to send it privately - sorry. I really liked your idea of posting an original story to a blog or other public site to help generate interest in one's work. However, how do you go about protecting that work? How can you make sure that someone doesn't take your story (or story idea) and try to sell it as his or her own? Is it possible to maintain a copyright (for lack of better word) on something published on the internet?<BR/><BR/>Thanks! And Happy New Year.Lynn Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444488890483608914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168111073040021352007-01-06T14:17:00.000-05:002007-01-06T14:17:00.000-05:00Excellent post. I thought I was the only writer w...Excellent post. I thought I was the only writer who did a yearly business plan. (Yes, I keep my spices in alphabetical order as well. Do you think the two are on the same gene?)Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168110913085387562007-01-06T14:15:00.000-05:002007-01-06T14:15:00.000-05:00Thanks for posting this, PBW. Hope your knee's bet...Thanks for posting this, PBW. Hope your knee's better and leave those third world countries alone!eihposhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00313211805933994883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168109288338245152007-01-06T13:48:00.000-05:002007-01-06T13:48:00.000-05:00You have an organized spice rack, and I do well to...You have an organized spice rack, and I do well to find my shoes on a daily basis. ^_^ <BR/><BR/>I've actually been doing an okay job of tracking my writing expenses, but I'd never looked at it as far as managing my money to be sure I have enough to pay for all my writing expenses. Hm. This has put me to thinking... <BR/><BR/>Thanks for posting this.Cora Zanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09461246984192089505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168103675503230402007-01-06T12:14:00.000-05:002007-01-06T12:14:00.000-05:00If I didn't make my living working with computers,...If I didn't make my living working with computers, I would have had Emeril's job. I thought EVERYONE alphabetizes their spices!<BR/><BR/>I have been considering going on my own as a computer consulting company, so creating a business plan is something I am currently working on. Making a business plan for writing was something I never considered, but will definitely do.<BR/><BR/>Great tip Sheila!BJ Steeveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17298555740070972092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168100616160440272007-01-06T11:23:00.000-05:002007-01-06T11:23:00.000-05:00Oh my this is EXACTLY what I need! Thanks so much ...Oh my this is EXACTLY what I need! Thanks so much for this post!Jeanettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15924091664813277764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168099877506971642007-01-06T11:11:00.000-05:002007-01-06T11:11:00.000-05:00I must do this. I really should. I know better tha...I must do this. I really should. I know better than to not do this. <BR/><BR/>We'll see how far I get.Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06185883760690309984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168099062428349882007-01-06T10:57:00.000-05:002007-01-06T10:57:00.000-05:00How many third world countries did you have to ove...How many third world countries did you have to overthrow before you realized what a drain on resources they are and how distracting they were to completing the writing plan?<BR/><BR/>Yeah, that walk to Stuart's place is a toughie.<BR/><BR/>There's a simple solution to the Hershey kiss crisis. Name the next puppy you get Hershey. All kisses then become free. The downside? Not much chocolate flavor. They are, however, calorie and fat free. (Personal experience talking here.)<BR/><BR/>Excellent post, simply presented. Thank you for you consistent reminders about how to handle the business side of this business. I'm trying something new this year -- I set up a private PBWiki (PBWiki.com) to manage/integrate my various business and personal endeavors.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and I also use a separate credit card for writing business expenses -- I think as a result of something you said a couple years ago.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805501348812702651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168098216941118462007-01-06T10:43:00.000-05:002007-01-06T10:43:00.000-05:00Thank you for this! One of my goals this year was ...Thank you for this! One of my goals this year was to figure out how the hell writers are supposed to make a business plan (especially the ones that have no current income)... this post was truly an an answered prayer!Nandinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01668111291110001664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168095843294926092007-01-06T10:04:00.000-05:002007-01-06T10:04:00.000-05:00oddly... i feel even more disorganized than ever.....oddly... i feel even more disorganized than ever... lol<BR/><BR/>My plan, the bare basics are to finish two contracted books and fit some shorter books to submit to my e publishers. I reckon I can try doing a more detailed plan....Shiloh Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07785046046157000126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168094062845193902007-01-06T09:34:00.000-05:002007-01-06T09:34:00.000-05:00Excellent advice. I just want to add one additiona...Excellent advice. I just want to add one additional tip for those who are published enough to depend on outside payments for important expenses. They'll be late. Count on it, plan for it, and make sure you have enough of a financial cushion to deal with it. <BR/><BR/>A corollary to this is don't quit your day job unless and until you have enough of a financial cushion to deal with late payments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168084199733283432007-01-06T06:49:00.000-05:002007-01-06T06:49:00.000-05:00I *heart* my business plan. And I'll be forever gr...I *heart* my business plan. And I'll be forever grateful that I learned project management in Corporate Land. It's a creative business, but it's still running a business.charlenetegliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061754720849284938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1168068631359526522007-01-06T02:30:00.000-05:002007-01-06T02:30:00.000-05:00Hmm...spice racks...what are those? I don't cook,...Hmm...spice racks...what are those? I don't cook, because my mom banned me from the kitchen. I caught our microwave on fire trying to make microwave popcorn, and I'm not joking about that.<BR/><BR/>As for the plan, I've always had trouble doing the planning for writing. Maybe that's why the periods in which I write have no rhyme or reason and usually result in chaos throughout the home. However, the way you've explained it makes it seem so easy that I will do this tomorrow. Thanks for the kick in the butt to get started.<BR/><BR/>JasonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com